Our Blog
Behind the Scenes: Mashpi Amagusa’s Field Guide for Birds
How do you create a comprehensive bird guide for the Pacto-Amagusa-Mashpi ecoregion? With a team of motivated individuals working together to make a difference! Building on Past Success Last year, Sergio learned firsthand that crowdfunding works. Birders from around...
Behind the Scenes: Mashpi Amagusa’s Field Guide for Birds
How do you create a comprehensive bird guide for the Pacto-Amagusa-Mashpi ecoregion? With a team of motivated individuals working together to make a difference! Building on Past Success Last year, Sergio learned firsthand that crowdfunding works. Birders from around...
Wahclella Falls: Easy Hike, Stunning Waterfall
We acknowledge that Wahclella Falls, located in the lower Columbia River Gorge, lies on the traditional territories of many tribes and bands who have inhabited and stewarded this land since time immemorial. The lower Columbia River, known as Wimahl in Upper Chinook...
The Chimborazo Lodge
I feel joy each time I drive up the rutted dirt road to the gated entrance of Marco Cruz's Chimborazo Lodge. I could blame the euphoria on the high altitude. After all, the lodge is 4000 meters, about 13,123 feet, above sea level. But this euphoria comes from my joy...
Indigenous Peoples of the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve
Visiting tourism projects in the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve that are owned and operated by Indigenous communities should not be complicated. Yet many lodges and agencies claim their tours benefit indigenous residents of the area. It isn't always so simple. Before...
Where to See Hummingbirds in Ecuador
Birdwatchers from around the world come to Ecuador in hopes of seeing as many as 132 species of hummingbirds! That's almost half of all hummingbird species in the entire world. This diversity makes this smallest of Andean nation one of the best places in the world to...
The Mashpi Amagusa Reserve Saved By Donations
The Basantes family now owns 62-hectares of their precious Mashpi Amagusa Reserve thanks to kind donors.
The Dream Galapagos Land Based Tour
A few years ago, we decided to head out on a 12-day Galapagos land-based tour! This information is still up-to-date and should inform your choice on whether to island hop or to cruise. Originally published in January 2016 After a lot of research, we decided that the...
52 Places To Go in Quito, Ecuador
In honor of Quito making the New York Times list, 52 Places To Go In 2024, I am sharing my favorite 52 places in and around Ecuador's capital city. The furthest points are about 2 hours from North Quito, an easy and pleasant day trip, especially when combined with...
Hiking Guagua Pichincha
2024 Update - Before planning this hike, please check current conditions with the GAD in Lloa. Guagua Pichincha is an active volcano and local officials sometimes close the access road and refuge. I hike places like Guagua Pichincha because hiking at high altitude...